Sand-base road



. G. HOWE.

SAND BASE ROAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAYB. 1919.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

lwvmto z 50207? G. Jiawe modified constructions.

SOLO}? G. HQWE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

- SAND-BASE ROAD.

Specification of Letters mat.

Patented Oct. 19,1920.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,585.

To aZZ whom it may concemtf Be it known that I SOLON G. Hows, a.

citizen of the United tates of America, re-- sidin at Detroit, in the [county of Wayne and State of Michi an, have invented certain new and useful mprovementsin Sand- Base Roads, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to road construction and has particular reference to roads constructed over a sand base.

It is the object of the invention to dispense with costly foundations and at the same time to obtain a hard, durable and comparatively dustless surface. To this end the invention consists, first, in the, method of construction, and, second, in the road, as hereinafter set'foa'th.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-section showing one form of construction;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing Sand roads in dryweather are most unsatisfactory for travel; On the other hand, wet sand will pack so as'to form "a comparatively firm support where the area of bearing is not too restricted. Therefore a comparatively thin surface layer. of any good road material, such as crushed stone, if

laid on wet sand will sustain the traflic, but

, portions from brea ing away.

when the sand dries the surface will soon break through. With my improvement a permanent durable road can be built over a sand base by the use of a surfacing layer impregnated with a deliquescent salt, such for instance as calcium chlorid. This covering prevents the drying out of the sand base and also operates to shed excess of rainwater so as to avoid washouts. When properly constructed and laid on a wet sandfoundation such a road will remain in satisfactory condition for a long period of time, while the expense of construction is only a fraction of that required for the building of a foundation.

In constructing my improved road the sand bed is firstproperly graded and provided with a curbin for protectinlg the edge his curb mg may be cheaply constructed, as shown in Fig. 1, by driving stakes A to which are nailed wooden strips B of a width substanably in the tially equal or slightly in excess of the depth of'the surface material. The road bed may, be shghtly rounded, if desired, and it may also be desirable to lay a line of drain tile at each edge, as indicated at C, the treated stone combination allowing a freer surface ,of I water to thedrain' tiles. Also it is preferable to increase the depth of the surface" layer at the sides of the road, as. indicated at D, where it extends downward to the drain tile. C. The surfacing material maybe made of crushed stone, crushed einders or other similar materials preferably redu d from one inch slze down to.dust and screened so as to give 34%rang1ng from dust to one-fourth Inch size and the remainder from one-fourth inch size to one inch. The dust and fine ma- 1 terial will act as a carrier for the chemical "and will fill the voids between the lar er particles. The deiiquescent salt is pre orwater whichgranulated salt to 6 gallons 0 Qf the P 1 1s sufficient for 18 cubic feet. pared body materials.

thoroughly mixed with then spread over able depth, as fore laying such surfacing material the base should be wet. When the road is completed it will have a comparatively hard but elastic surface a blanket for retaining e sand. In case'of hard water will be shed from the moisture in t rains the excess of the round surface the sides and only colate through the coverin to maintain the moist condition of the sand. Q

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification in which in place of a wood curbing a cement 95 curbing E and utter E are formed, said gutter being desirable where there are steep grades and a rapid flow of water. This" figure also shows a line of central drain tile F at the center of the road with laterally 100- proportion of 25 pounds of the The materials are the salt and are. I

the graded base to a suitfor instance 4 inches, but bewhich performs the double function of distributing the load-to the sand base and formin passing into the drains at sufficient water will perthe curbing; also a line of sential characteristic is maintaining the sand base moist during dry weather and avoid washouts in wet weather.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of constructing roads over a sand base, comprising properly grading the base and *laying overthe same while in moist condition'a surfacin layer impregnated with a deliquescent sa ts 2. The method. of .constructing roads over a sand base, comprising properly grading the base,-placing a curbing-at opposite-sides thereof and laying over the same while in .moist condition a layer of surfacing material impregnated with a deliquescent salt.

3. A road, comprising a moist sand base and a layer of surfacing material impregnated with a deliquescent salt.

4. A road, comprising a moist sand base, side curbing and a layer of surfacing material over said base between the curbs, said material being impregnated with a deliquescent salt.

5. A road, comprising a moist sand base, curbing at the opposite sides thereof, drainage means ad'acent to said curbing and a layer of sur acing material between the curbs, said material being impregnated with a deliquescent salt.

6. A road, comprising a moist sand base and a la er of surfacing material composed of mixe fine and coarse road surfacing material impregnated with a deliquescent salt.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

soL'oN e. HOWE. 

